I was all packed and ready to go by 2:30 or so. Then I went to go load up the car. Could NOT find my KEYS!!! Spent the next 45 minutes looking for those dang things. I thought I had put them on the hook by the door, but they had fallen into a bag.

Picked up Karen, then went to Gayle's. It was now about 3:45.

Packed up the car - G wanted to make sure that the kids would be occupied.

2 9x13 inch rectangle plastic boxes filled with toys

2 white boards for drawing on plus they could be used as a table

Basket of crayons and pens and markers. (plastic bag might have been a better choice)

2 duffel bags for G & kids

2 backpacks - one for me, one for K

2 sleeping bags & pillows

Igloos (yes, ice chest - Mat!)

Munchies (grapes, bananas, apples, doritos, chex mix, cookies etc)

Case of water

12 pack of diet pepsi

12 pack of apple juice

Wedding presents

Dresses

Then add in two car seats, 2 kids and 3 adults. The car was definitely packed. On the road by 4:30. Hit the usual traffic going through Dublin/Livermore. Once we were on highway 5, things went much faster. Kids, of course, did not sleep. Dinner at MacDonalds and there were stops for potty & running around. Made pretty good time and got to the hotel after 11pm - kids in bed before midnight

We stayed at the Tropicana Inn and Suites - which is directly across the street from Disneyland's main gate - very convenient. It was remodeled last year, so everything was very nice. We got a standard room - two queen size beds. The room's fridge and microwave came in very handy.

I slept on the floor. Karen & Kyle and Gayle & Alani shared. Karen volunteered for the floor the next night cuz Kyle is a bed hog.

Friday morning. Rise and shine! Disneyland! Right. The kids slept in until after 9am. Karen & I went to the hospitality room to pick up our continental breakfast - croissants and sweet rolls. For a little extra, you could get lattes and cappuccinos, milk, and cereals.

Had to go through a bag check before going into either park. I did buy a season pass - it will be good until October 14, 2006. First ride? Pirates of the Carribbean. Alani has admitted that she really does not like that ride, too dark. K & I took Kyle on the Indiana Jones ride - he's tall enough finally. G & Alani did Tarzan's treehouse several times.

Park was packed - but I heard it had been much worse the day before. LA schools get Yom Kippur off and then some schools also had teacher work days on Friday.

Haunted Mansion (yay Jack Skellington!), Winnie the Pooh, Splash Mountain (K,K & I rode it - G & A did Winnie the Pooh four more times). Quick lunch at Country Bear burgers (where I promptly dropped mine *sigh*). Certain people were getting tired, so we headed back to the hotel for some down time. No naps, just much splashing and swimming. Alani decided to try out the hot tub. One foot in and "oooh too hot", so that was the end of that.

Dinner at Rainforest Cafe. Having a frequent user card did come in handy. We only had to wait 25 minutes. Most people had to wait an hour or more. South American band was playing in the square, so the kids got to listen and dance while we waited. Celebrated Alani's birthday with a volcano (chocolate brownie volcano filled with vanilla ice cream, topped with whipped cream and a tinsel "sparkler")

G & A did a bit of shopping in Downtown Disney and then headed back to the hotel to crash. K,K & I went back to Disneyland. Matterhorn (love it at night). Waited in line at Space Mountain - watched some of the 50th Anniversary fireworks show. After waiting 90 minutes we gave up as the ride had broken down and they weren't sure when it would be up again. We were all tired, so we went back to the hotel.